Hand-transplanter.



J. W. THOMPSON.

HAND TRANSPLANTER.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN.21,1911.

1,007,752. Patented Nov. 7, 1911.

4 15 r j 1/ Z j e 2 Z5 jfl 9 j/ a Attorneys COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 00., WAS111111111111 c.

UNTTED STATES PATENT QFFTCE.

JAMES W. THOMPSON, OF HARLINGEN, TEXAS.

HAND-TRANSPLANTER.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES W. THOMPSON, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of I-larlingen, in the county of Cameron and State ofTexas, have invented a new and useful Hand-Transplanter, of which thefollowing is a full, adequate, and complete description.

The device forming the subject matter of this application, is a manuallyoperated device, adapted for the manipulation of small plants, duringthe transplanting of the same, and during the thinning out of closelygrowing plants.

The objects of the invention are, to provide, in a transplanter of thesort above referred to, novel mechanism for actuating the movable jaw ofthe transplanter, and to devise a novel form of hand-actuated means, forthe manipulation of said mechanism.

Vith the above and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope ofwhat is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings,Figure 1 shows the invention in side elevation; Fig. 2is a fragmental edge elevation, showing the lower portionof thestructure; and Fig. 3 is a sectional edge elevation showing the mannerin which the operating elements are slidably connected with the handles.

In carrying out the invention there is provided, as a primary andfundamental element, a body 1, preferably taking the form of a bar. Thebody 1 is equipped at its upper end, with an outstanding handle 2,preferably held in place by a bolt 3. Secured to the body 1,intermediate its ends, by means of av bolt 4, is a handle 5, the handle5 proj ecting in a direction opposite to that of the handle 2. The lowerend of the body 1 is thinned, and suitably shaped to form a relativelyfixed jaw 6, cooperating with a similarly shaped movable jaw 7, disposedparallel to the jaw 6. An arched yoke 8 is extended around the fixed jaw6, the extremities of the yoke 8 being secured to the movable aw 7, asshown at 9. A pivot element 1( is extended through the yoke 8, andthrough the jaw 6, and thus the movable jaw Specification. of LettersPatent.

Application filed January 21, 1911.

Patented Nov. '7, 1911.

Serial No. 603,981.

'? is operatively connected with the fixed aw.

In order to maintain the jaws 6 and 7 spaced apart at their operativeends, a spring plate 11 is secured at its lower end, as shown at 12, tothe rear face of the fixed jaw 6, the spring plate 11 extending upwardlythrough and above the yoke S. The upper end of the spring plate 11 iscurved or otherwise adapted, as shown at 14, to engage within one end ofa link 15, the link 15 inclosing the body 1, and registering, at itsopposite end, in a notch 16, formed in the outer face of the movable jaw7, adjacent the upper end of the movable jaw. It will be seen that thetendency of the spring plate 11, drawing upon the link 15, will be tomaintain the operative ends of the jaws 6 and 7 spaced apart, as clearlyshown in Fig. 1.

Mounted in the intermediate portion 17 of the yoke 8, is an eye 18,which, through the instrumentality of a link 19 or the like, isconnected with a pair of wires 20 and 21, the wires 20 and 21 beingreferred to hereinafter as the operating members. From the link 19, theoperating members 20 and 21 diverge. The operating member 20 is extendedupwardly along one of the lateral edges of the body 1, and is mountedfor reciprocation in the body carried guide 22. Above the guide 22, theoperating member 20 branches into two segments 23 and 24, the segment 23lying along the forward face of the body 1,

;and reciprocating in a guide 25, secured to the body. The segment 24 isspaced from the body 1, and is connected with the segment 23 by a crossbar 26, upon which is mounted a handle 27, located below the handle 5.The upper end 28 of the segment 24, is mounted to slide in a guide 29,secured to the outer end of the handle 5. The operating member 21extends upwardly along the rear face of the body 1, and is mounted toslide in a body-carried guide 30. Above the guide 30, the operatingmember 21 diverges in two segments 31 and 32. The segment 31 lies closeto the body 1, and slides in a bodycarried guide 33. The segment 32 isspaced from the body 1, and is connected with the segment 33 by a crossbar 34, carrying a handle 35, located below the handle 2, the extremityof the segment 32 protruding beyond the cross bar 34, as shown at 36, toregister in a guide 37, secured to the outer end of the handle 2.

In practical operation, the handles 2 and 35, upon the one hand, or thehandles 5 and 27, upon the other hand, are simultaneously engaged,elevating the operating member 21 in the one instance, and the operatingmember in the other instance. Either of these operating members, whendrawn upwardly, will serve to tilt the yoke 8, thereby advancing themovable 7 toward the fixed 6. When the handles and 27 are released, thespring 11 will operate, in the manner hereinbefore described, to effecta spacing of the aws 6 and 7. Owing to the fact that the handle-holdingloops, comprising the elements 24, 26 and 23 in the one instance, andthe elements 32, 34 and 31 in the other instance, are equipped,respectively, with the upstanding fingers 28 and 36, reciprocat ingseverally, in the guides 29 and 37, the handles 27 and 35 will be alinedproperly, at all times, with the handles 5 and 2, respectively, and adirect tension upon the operating members 20 and 21 will thus besecured.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a deviceof the class described, a body provided at one end with a fixed jaw; amovable jaw pivotally connected with the fixed jaw; spring means forseparating the jaws; primary handles outstanding in opposite directionsfrom the body, at spaced points upon the body; an operating memberconsisting of diverging branches operatively connected at one end, wihthe movable jaw, and provided with handle-forming portions at theirother ends, located beneath the primary handles.

2. In a device of the class described, a body provided at one end with afixed jaw; a movable jaw pivotally connected with the fixed jaw; springmeans for separating the jaws; primary handles outstanding in oppositedirections from the body, at spaced points upon the body; an operatingmember consisting of diverging branches operatively connected at one endeach, with the movable jaw, and provided with handleforming loops attheir other ends, located be neath the primary handles.

3. In a device of the class described, a body provided at its lower endwith a fixed jaw; a yoke extended about the fixed jaw and pivotallyconnected therewith; a movable jaw held between the arms of the yoke; aspring secured at its lower end to the fixed jaw, and extended upwardly,through the yoke; and a link, surrounding the body, and connected at itsends with the spring and with the movable jaw; a primary handle carriedby the body; an operating member connected with the yoke; and a handleupon the operating member, located beneath the primary handle.

4. In a device of the class described, a body provided at its lower endwith a fixed jaw; a primary handle outstanding from the body; guidesupon the body; an operat ing member slidable in the guides; a movablejaw pivoted to the fixed jaw, and operatively connected with theoperatingmember; the operating member being equipped with ahandle-forming loop, located below the primary handle, said loop beingprovided with an outstanding finger; and a bearing upon the primaryhandle, in which the finger is mounted for reciprocation.

5. In a device of the class described, a body provided at its lower endwith a fixed jaw; a primary handle outstanding from the body; guidesupon the body; an operating member slidable in the guides; a movable jawpivoted to the fixed jaw and operatively connected with the operatingmember; the operating member being equipped wit-h a handle-formingportion located below the primary handle, said handle-forming portionbeing provided with an out standing finger; and a bearing upon theprimary handle, in which the finger is mounted for reciprocation.

J. W. THOMPSON.

lVitnesses:

I. B. MCFARLAND, E. J. BLAINE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

